Improvement of specific immunotherapy by human IgG and modified allergens.

The article reports on the treatment of allergy patients by pharmacologically symptomatic treatment and immunotherapy (IT). Immunotherapy has been practiced for almost 80 years. The efficacy has been documented. Treatment of Type I allergic conditions--particularly hay fever-- with IT is not of recent origin. In 1921 it was demonstrated that serum from allergic patients contains a factor that may transfer allergen reactivity to the skin of an unsensitized subject. In spite of clinical improvernent on IT, no reduction of sensitizing antibodies in serum occurred. Many strategies have been followed in order to improve IT.